The next photo is the PROMPT. Remember, all photos are property of the photographer, donated for use in Friday Fictioneers only. They shouldn’t be used for any other purpose without express permission. It is proper etiquette to give the contributor credit.
SLAM DUNK
Marquis skimmed his ledger and smiled. Sales for his rubber-soled canvas shoes were on the rise. Mentally, he patted himself on the back. No one would have to slip on wet stairs and injure themselves as he had.
His secretary entered. “There’s a young man here to see you, sir. Says it’s a matter of great importance. He looks like a kid.”
“Send him in.”
A tall lanky youth hobbled toward the desk. Marquis rose and offered his hand. “What can I do for you, Mr.—”
“Taylor. Chuck Taylor. Please, Mr. Converse, could you design a comfortable basketball shoe?”
Rochelle Wisoff-Fields-Addicted to Purple 
Love how you highlight the historic stories
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Dear Sadje,
I’m glad you do. Thank you for taking the time to say so. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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My pleasure.
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And the rest was history!
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Dear Neil,
I have to laugh. That seriously was almost the title of this piece. 😀 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I don’t bother with sports so I pert near couldn’t have found out about him otherwise. It’s nice to find out about the beginnings of all these kinds of things
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Dear Larry,
Aside from my personal workouts I’m not a sports person either. However I do love the shoes and finding out the origins of things. 😉 (It never occurred to me until yesterday to find out who Chuck Taylor was, even though I’ve been wearing purple Chucks for years.)
Shalom,
Rochelle
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And here it is, 100 years later, and you can still rock those purple Chucks… It is funny how some things pretty much just work and so keep going. Personally, I find them a little uncomfortable and have to wear super flexible shoes that fit closer than socks, i.e., barefoot style.
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Dear Trent,
Confession: I can only stand mine for so long before they start pinching my pinkie toes. This is my third pair since the 1980’s. They’ve become something of a trademark.
It was fun sniffing out the history. 😀 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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lol, but they are stylish… (I haven’t worn Converse since I was a kid in the 70s). It is always fun for me to read your little snippets of history 🙂
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Thanks Trent. I do love finding those little historical nuggets when I can. 😉
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I bought some Converse shoes a few years ago. They looked great but gosh they were uncomfortable, so I’m not sure I buy Chuck’s description. Must have got something right though, given their longevity and popularity, so maybe it’s just me!
Great story as ever, Rochelle.
Jen
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Dear Jen,
I find that my Chucks are comfortable for a few hours. Anything longer than 8 hours and I’m done with them. They’re great conversation starters at vendor fairs. 😉 Thank you re my story. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Sounds like you have the perfect relationship with yours, Rochelle!
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At first glance, I thought those were BODIES hanging up there! So glad the story isn’t about that 🙂
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Dear Linda,
Nope…no bodies. Only shoes. 😉 How could I pass up a history op? 😉
Shalom,
Rochelle
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What a great story. A historic shoe came into existence. Little did they know the impact it would have. Good job M’Luv.
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Dear Jan,
You know me. Gotta find out where things all began. 😉 Thanks M’Luv.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Rochelle, there are so many things we take for granted and don’t wonder how they came to be. Thank goodness for rubber soled shoes, and thanks for telling their origin story today 🙂
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Dear Lisa,
Isn’t it fun to learn of origins of things we take for granted? 😀 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Rochelle, yes! You’re very welcome.
Shalom,
Lisa
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Dear Rochelle,
Love how you have taught us something whilst entertaining us! I was never attracted to them as far as sports shoes go but they were and still are awfully poplar! Now that I read the comments on how uncomfortable they are, I am rather glad I avoided them 😉
Shalom and lots of comfy love,
Dale
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Dear Dale,
They aren’t totally uncomfortable. They’re just not ones that I can wear all day every day. And learning should be entertaining, shouldn’t it. That way we retain the knowledge. Thank you for your uber comfortable words.
Shalom and lotsa comfy hugs,
Rochelle
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That is NOT the sign of a good shoe, to me! If learning was always entertaining, could you imagine?
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Dear Runny Babbit W(T)F,
I loved the way you worked an injury into this story. No doubt this dominated Mr. Converse’s conversation for several months–the lucky stiff.
Hopefully, they’ll come out with a Shelley Kohlen model soon with little DNR tags hanging out the back for people to tug on as they slip their feet into the sneakers.
Happy pirouetting,
Shoeless Kneecap
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Dear Shoeless Kneecap,
Oh be sure to send your idea into the Converse company. I’m sure they’ll jump high to snag those tags. Of course the Shelley Kohlen model should have a special whiteface patch on the side with her signature. And most definitely they will be purple.
Thank you for hobbling by.
Shalom,
Runny Babbit W(T)F
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I enjoyed reading this, as in the 1960s I worked it a shoe factory. Happy days
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Dear Michael,
I’m pleased my story brought some happy memories to you. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I don’t think we get Chucks here in UK, but I do wonder why you’d keep buying them if they’re not comfortable!
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Dear Liz,
Chuck’s aren’t uncomfortable for everyone. As for me, I can’t wear Crocs which everyone finds so comfortable. For me they’re awful. So there you go.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Here’s another example of you teaching us something I’ve never considered. Chuck Taylor is obviously a name, but I’ve never considered who he was. He even lived here in Reno or at least came here to get married twice. Converse, I just assumed was the converse of Nike or Reebok.
It’s going to blow my mind when you do stories about Alexander Band-Aid, Carlos Q-Tip, or Vincent Van Lamp.
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Dear Nobbin,
I never really gave thought to the name Converse either…until this past week, that is. 😉 I do have my doubts about Carlos Q-Tip, but one never knows. I have done historical snippets about the origins of paper clips and safety pins, though. 😉 Band-Aid…now there’s something to look into.
Happy to pass on trivia any time I can. Thank you. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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In a hundred words I learnt to challenge my daughter on her knowledge about her favourite shoes!
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Dear Ain,
Happy to help. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Ah, I love me some tennis-shoes, or whatever else they’re called. We know what they are, and they are COMFY! 🙂
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Na’ama Y’karah,
When our feet are happy, the rest of us are happy, too. Nu? There are so many variations of athletic shoes these days by so many different names, aren’t there? I thank you from my heart and sole for reading. 😉
Shalom,
Rochelle
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From my sole to your sole! 😉
Shabbat Shalom! 🙂
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I like the way you give us little details which tell us so much, like, ‘A tall lanky youth hobbled toward the desk.’
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Dear Penny,
I always look forward to your comments. Thank you so much.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Hey again, Rochelle,
I was gong to ignore the shoes in the photo prompt, then I read your story and it was like ‘oh, yeah.’
I also remembered back to when my Converse sneakers were the cheapest in the store, I even wore holes in them as a kid. We all did. Now they’re damn proud of them $$. They look great on you and they owe you for the publicity (minus the pinky toe comment LOL).
Wonderful story.
Peace,
Bill
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Dear Bill,
This is my third pair of purple Chucks. I had to retire the first pair when the soles started flapping in the breeze. The second pair didn’t seem to hold up as well as the first. It was only with this third pair I had to get new pink laces. I can tell you that purple Chucks are hard to find. And, yes, the price has certainly gone up! Thank you re my story. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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You’re welcome, Rochelle.
I love your look and style — hard to find chucks, or what.
Peace,
Bill
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Okay now all I can think about is purple Chucks with pink laces and how I feel like I may need those shoes now. Also, fun story, but … really loving the shoes!
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Dear Anne,
Who knows? We could start a movement. Set a trend. 😉 Thank you. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Happy Wednesday, Rochelle. Great story, as always. I swear I learn more hidden gems of history from your stories, all in your polished style. Love the purple chucks, but what else would we expect? 🙂
-David
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Dear David,
And a happy Friday to you. 😉 I’m surprised I wasn’t wearing purple chucks when we met. Although I do wear other shoes. Thank you re my story. I’m always happy to pass along historical trivia as I learn it.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I’ve been told I’m not very observant when it comes to clothing and hairstyles and such, so I’d have to go back and look at the pictures to be sure. 🙂
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And an icon was created. It seems so normal. I guess these things are, because all beginnings are average, most probably fail in their adventure and occasionally an icon is born. Great take, R!
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Dear Tanille,
There’s always a beginning when it comes to icons. And I love it when I can find those origins. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I like how your stories search out the human touches of life.
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Dear James,
One thing that was lacking in my history classes was the humanity. All events and dates. Forgettable stuff. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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The story behind the name! Once again I leave wiser than I was when I arrived!
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Dear Keith,
Thank you for such a delightfully validating comment.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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And he did 🙂 I didn’t realise “Converse” was a chap’s name.
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Dear Ali,
Now you know. My work here is done. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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after all these years, they still look great. i just bought a batman-themed pair. 🙂
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Dear Plaridel,
Actually the ones I’m wearing in the picture are only a couple of years old. I’ve had three pairs in nearly 40 years. Batman themed. How cool.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Nice story
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Thank you, Ted. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I like how he kept improving on the shoes he made.
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Dear Frank,
That’s progress for ya. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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What a great story. I’ve seen the shoes and heard the name, but since I’m not much into brands, I had little interest. These shoes have now become a lot more interesting.
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Dear Gabi,
For the most part, brand names don’t impress me. However there’s something about Chucks. 😉 Thank you. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Loved the story Rochelle.
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Thank you, whoever you are. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I simply love your never ending bouquet of historical fictional series! Another great read.
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What a lovely things to say, Nell. ❤ Thank you so much.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Aww I love this story so much!!! Thanks for this bit of history!
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Thank you so much, whoever you are. Little bits of history are my favorite. 😉
Shalom,
Rochelle
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That was a most enlightening story. It’s fascinating how certain items gain such popularity over time. I like the little detail about the ‘tall lanky youth’ hobbling in. I hope his hobbling days were over once he got his new shoes.
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Dear Margaret,
I’m always happy when a story resonates with a reader. Thank you for such a lovely comment. .:D
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Hah! Another excellent tale. Rubber soles to not slip seems a fabulous reason to redesign shoes way back when
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Dear Laurie,
Origins of things we take for granted fascinate me. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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